146 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Lepidopfera, (Butterflies and moths,) have the mandibles obso- 

 lete, the maxillae greatly prolonged and rolled up between the labial 

 palpi; and soft bodies covered with scales; and broad, regularly 

 veined wings, also covered with dust-like scales. Their transforma- 

 tions are complete. The active larvae assume a^worni-like form 

 with several pairs (1-5) of fleshy false legs besides the thoracic 

 ones ; they spin silken cocoons before changing to pupae (chrysa- 

 lids, nymphs,) with the exception of the butterflies. The limbs of 

 the chrysalids are soldered together, and the abdomen is movable 

 upon the head and thorax. Some of the lower families are some- 

 what aquatic, feeding on water plants. 



Diptera, (flies) have the mouth parts formed into a kind of pro- 

 boscis ; the second pair of wings are undeveloped, being reduced 

 to a pair of pedicelled knobs serving as balancers or poisers. Their 

 trausiormations are complete, the larva being maggots or elongated 

 worm-like embryos. The pupae often change within the skin of 

 the larvas, which serves as a cocoon. The limbs are free. Many 

 of the species are aquatic. Here we first find wingless parasites. 



Coleoptcra, or beetles, are known by their hard bodies, free and 

 well developed mouth parts, and by the first pair of wings being 

 hardened into sheaths [elytra) for the protection of the second pair. 

 The larvae called grubs, often have a terminal prop-leg besides the 

 thoracic or true jointed legs, and pass by a complete metamorphosis 

 to the imago stat5. The pupae are often protected by a cocoon, 

 and have their limbs free. Some of the species are aquatic. One 

 family is parasitic but is winged. 



Hemiptera (bugs,) have the mouth parts formed into a sucking 

 tube. The first pair are often thickened at the base and laid flat 

 upon the abdomen, are thin, somewhat net veined, and inclined 

 over the hind body. The transformations are incomplete, as in the 

 orthoptera. The species are largely aquatic. Some lower groups 

 are true wingless parasites. 



Orthoptera (grasshoppers,) have free mouth parts, and the or- 

 gans of nutrition very highly developed. The first pair of wings 

 are still partly hardened to protect the broad net-veined hind pair 

 which fold up like a fan upon the abdomen. Tli^ transformations 

 are not complete, the larvae and pupae resembling closely the 

 imago, both being active. All the species are terrestrial. 



Neur opt era have the mouth parts free again, the wings large and 

 net-veined, the hind pair being often larger than the primaries. 



